The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a tablet medication, called metformin, in flare-ups (exacerbations) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The investigators believe that metformin may effectively control the blood sugar level during COPD exacerbations. This is important because there is evidence that a high blood sugar level during exacerbations may be linked with a worse prognosis. The investigators also think that metformin may have other potentially useful effects on inflammation, antioxidant levels, the effectiveness of steroid treatment, and recovery.

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide, and a major cause of ill health. In the UK, it affects some 3.7 million people and causes over 30,000 deaths per year. It is usually, but not always, caused by smoking. Most people affected are over 65-years-old. Sufferers experience progressively worsening cough, sputum production, breathlessness and exercise limitation. This is punctuated by 'flare-ups' (exacerbations), when their symptoms worsen substantially. Approximately 25% of patients hospitalised for exacerbations die within a year, and over 50% within 5 years. There is a pressing need for new and improved treatments for COPD exacerbations.

This study will assess the effect of metformin, a tablet medication, in COPD exacerbations. Metformin has been in common use for over 50 years in patients with diabetes, to lower the blood sugar level. In COPD exacerbations, the blood sugar level is often high, and the higher it is, the more likely the patient will have a poor outcome. This led us to speculate that lowering the sugar level with metformin may improve outcomes from COPD exacerbations. However, COPD and diabetes are quite different diseases, and the investigators do not know whether metformin will work as a sugar-lowering medicine in COPD exacerbations. The investigators need to confirm this before the investigators can perform larger studies to assess its effect on outcomes such as readmission and mortality rates.

The investigators will test this medicine in a 1-month trial in patients hospitalised for COPD exacerbations. The target sample size is 69 patients, with a minimum of 48 patients required for primary endpoint analysis. Two-thirds of the patients will take metformin, and one-third a dummy (placebo) tablet. Neither the patients nor the researchers know who is taking which. The investigators will measure their sugar levels by regular finger-prick tests, and then compare the average readings in the two groups. The investigators will also assess the medicine's effects on other markers of blood sugar level, and carry out additional exploratory investigations on the effect of the medicine on clinical outcomes, markers of inflammation, and markers of oxidative/carbonyl stress and steroid responsiveness.

Hypersensitivity to metformin hydrochloride or to any of the excipients

Renal impairment

Severe sepsis

Metabolic acidosis

Decompensated type 2 respiratory failure

Severe congestive cardiac failure

Acute coronary syndrome

Hepatic insufficiency

Excessive alcohol consumption

Malnourished or at high risk for malnutrition

Moribund or not for active treatment

Admitted to critical care unit

Unable to give informed consent

Pregnancy or lactation

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01247870